Electric flash light



R. M. EATON ELECTRIC FLASH LIGHT Filed Aug. 1926 Y v anowtoz Patented Oct. 30, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,689,382 PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD MAXWELL EATON, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC FLASH LIGHT.

Application filed August 2, 1926. Serial No. 126,401.

adapted to force the battery terminal forwardly in engagement with the electrical contact on the lamp. These caps are usually removably secured to the respective ends of the casing by a threaded connection therewith. More specifically the invention relates to the last mentioned cap.

One object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the flash light may be readily suspended or carried upon the person. Accordingly an irregular metallic loop is swivelled'on'the flash light 'and this loop is so proportioned as to be readily slipped over a button and moved axially so that the thread or shank of the button as the case may be is engaged by a portion of the loop of decreased diameter, the button serving to prevent the accidental removal of the loop. The flash light may also be suspended from a finger say, by passing the same through that portion of the loop of increased diameter which is proportioned to receive it.

The invention also has for its object the provision of a cap which will permit the flash light to stand on end when the suspension loop is pivoted thereon. According to this aspect of the invention the end face of the cap is substantially a plane surface which is formed with a depression of the shape of the suspension loop and of a depth sufficient to permit the loop to lie wh'olly within the outer marginal surface so that it will not interfere with the balance of the flash light when stood on end.

The invention also seeks to automatically retain the suspension loop in the recess when not in use. It also seeks a construction wherein the loop may be readily released and automatically moved to operative position substantially perpendicular to the end surface of the flash light. lVith these ends in view the loop is formed of resilient metal,

' suchas wire, and the cap is formed with a shoulder or cam surface in non-parallel or reverse relation with a portion of the loop, whereby when the loop is pressed into the depression, it is sprung over the shoulder which then overties the loop and retains it within the depression. \Vhen the loop is to be moved out of the depression, the thumb nail, for instance, may be inserted beneath the end of the loop to raise a portion over the shoulder when the resilience of the metal will cause the said portion. of the loop to override the shoulder and spring the loop to a substantially vertical position.

The invention also resides in a suspension loop which is practical from the standpoint of ease and-cheapness in manufacture and convenience in use.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the followingdetailed description of a preferred embodiment, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is aview in elevation showing a conventional type of flash light to which the invention is applied.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the suspension loop applied to a flash light cap which is recessed to receivethe loop when in folded position.

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the cap, partly in vertical section, taken in the plane indicated by the line 33 in Fig.2 and showing the suspension loop lying within the outer marginal surface of the cap'end.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the plane indicated'by the line 4-4 in Fig. 2 and showing the cam surface or shoulder formed along the edge of the depression over which a nonparalleled portion of the suspension loop is sprung to retain it within the depression.

A common type of electric flash light shown in Fig. 1 comprises a cylindrical casing 5 closed at the one end by a threaded cap 6 carrying the lensv 7 and closed at its other end by a threaded cap 8. The cap 8 is formed with a plane end surface 9 whereby the flash light may be stood on end and with a polygonal shaped rim 10 serving as a convenient grip in screwing or unscrewing the cap from the end of the casing. Pivotally mounted in the cap 4 at one side thereof is a suspension loop of irregular outline indicated in general at 11. The loop is preferably formed of re silient metallic wire and is of largest diameter between the portions 12-42 whereby it may be slipped over a button or carried on the finger and of a reduced diameter between the portions 13- 13 adjacent to the end so that axial movement of the loop after it has been slipped over a button will bring the shank or other securing means thereof within the part of reduced diameter where the button will prevent its displacement. The ends 14 of the loop are turned mwardly as shown to pivot within holes in a relatively raised portion such as the straight sides of a depression 15 formed in the end surface 9 of the cap 8 of a depth sufficient, as shown in Fig. 3, to permit the loop to l1e wholly below the marginal surface 9 and not Interfere with the balance of the flash light when stood on end. Thus the loop is movable from e ther of the positions shown in full lines 1n Figs. 1 or 2 to the position shown in dotted lines 1n Fig. 2 and in Fig. 3.

The loop 11 is retained automatically within the depression 15. To effect such retention the straight portions 1616 converge from the ends 14 while the marginal edges 17 of the recess 15 are disposed in non-parallel relationship with respect to the port ons 16 beingspaced further apart at the po nts 18 than the cooperating points 19 of the sldes 16 of the loop. As the loop is moved into the depression, the portions 16, bemg resll ent, spring under the edges 17 and are retained thereby. To displace the loop from out the depression and cause it to assume a perpendicular position, as shown in Fig. 1, the thumb nail may be inserted under the end 20 of the loop, as it lies in the recess, while the flash light is grasped in the palm of the hand with the fingers encircling it. As the end 20 is raised, thus turning the loop about its pivots, the shoulders 19 ride over the edges 17 and the converging sides 16, being resilient, and bein expanded away from one another by the e ges 17, have a tendency to spring back into normal position, which causes the portions 16 to slide along the diverging edges 17 and move the loop to a vertical position.

It will thus be seen that a clip or suspension ring has been provided attached to a flash light case or fitting thereof which has an-irregular shape substantially similar in form to that used in garter fastenings so that the flash light may be suspended thereby or attached to a button on the clothes of the user. Moreover, the suspension loop does not interfere with the balance of the flashlight, when it is stood on end, since the loop is retained, when not in use, within a depression formed in the end of the flashlight casing. The loop is also adapted to be automatically returned to operative position by a simple releasing action which may be effected by the thumb nail of the hand holding the flashlight. Various modifications may be made in th location, configuration and composition of the suspension ring as well as in the means whereby it is retained within the depression inthe casing and the means whereby it is moved to operative position. Furthermore, the several I features of the invention are capable of inde pendent use as well as in combination and no limltation is intended by the phraseology of the foregoing description or illustrations in the accompanying drawings beyond that set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, the combination of a cap for a flash light and an elongated suspension loop varying in width trans versely. said cap having a plane end surface formed with an irregular depression to receive the loop and of a depth sufficient to permit the loop to lie within the marginal surface of the cap, said loop being pivoted on the cap and being formed with oppositely disposed straight sides adjacent the pivots and converging therefrom, said depression hav' ing oppositely disposed straight edges adjacent the pivots and the walls of the depression beneath the edges being recessed.

2. The combination of a cap for a flash light adapted to serve as a base for the flash light when the same is stood on end, and a suspension loop for said flash light pivoted on said cap and foldable from a collapsed inoperative position to a non-collapsed flash light supporting position, said loop comprising a resilient body bent upon itself adjacent its mid portion and diverging therefrom to its ends, and an irregular shaped channel formed in said cap corresponding to the shape of the loop for receiving and housing the loop when the same is in collapsed inoperative position, said loop having its ends turned inwardly and forming pivots for the loop, and said channel being provided with undercut portions for receiving the diverging portions of the loop adjacent their inturned ends.

3. The combination of a cap for a flash light adapted to serve as a base for the flash light when the same is stood on end, and a suspension loop for said flash light pivoted on said cap and foldable from a collapsed inoperative position to a non-collapsed flash light supporting position, said loop comprising a resilient body bent upon itself adjacent itsmid portion and diverging therefrom to its ends, and an irregular shaped channel formed in said cap corresponding to the shape of the loop for receiving and housing the loop when the same is in collapsed inoperative position, said channel having its opposed portions provided with means for engaging the loop to cause it to snap into and out of inoperative position.

4. The combination of a cap for a flash light, and an elongated suspension loop pivoted thereon, said cap having a plane end surface formed with a channel corresponding in shape to the loop and of a depth to snugly rece1ve the loop below the surface of the cap, said channel having undercut walls adjacent the piyots of the loop for maintaining the loop in inoperative position within said channel. a

5. The combination of a cap for a flash light, and an elongated suspension loop pivoted thereon, said cap having a. plane end surface formed with a channel corresponding in shape to the loo andof a. depth to snugly receive the loop said channel havin undercut walls adjacent the pivots of the 00p for maintaining the loop in inoperative position within said chanml, the portions of the channel adjacent the low the surface of the cap,

pivots of the loop being spaced apart an amount unequal to the spacing of the sides of 10 the loop requiring the loop to spring into and out of the channel.

In testimony whereof I have hereto afiixed my signature on this 28th day of July, 1926.

RICHARD MAXWELL EATON. 

